karen funeral

Mourners pictured this afternoon at the funeral of Karen Buckley who was murdered in Glasgow over two weeks ago. Her funeral took place at at the Church of St Michael the Archangel in Analeentha in Mourneabbey, Co. Cork

Nurses from Karen Buckley's University of Limerick graduation year at the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, Analeentha, Co. Cork, following her funeral mass.

Mourners outside the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, Analeentha, Co. Cork, following Karen Buckley's funeral mass

Karen Buckley'smother, Marian looks on as her Father, John, and two of her brothers carry her remains from the church pictured this afternoon at the funeral of Karen Buckley who was murdered in Glasgow over two weeks ago. Her funeral took place at at the Church of St Michael the Archangel in Analeentha in Mourneabbey, Co. Cork..

Karen funeral

IT was the yellow dress that Karen Buckley (24) chose specially for her brother Brendan's wedding.

The gorgeous frock was the student's favourite, and she posted photos of her wearing it on her social media pages.

It was also the dress that Karen was photographed wearing in many of the images used as part of the massive missing person hunt for her in Scotland two weeks ago.

Yesterday, the heartbroken Buckley family fought back tears as the dress, bought for happy occasions by a girl who had "a smile to lift a thousand frowns", was instead among the offertory gifts at her requiem mass.

Karen's parents, John (62) and Marian (61), trembled with emotion as their son Damien (27) gently placed his sister's dress before the altar. Her nurse's uniform was also included.

Outside the packed north Cork church, Karen's University of Limerick nursing classmates shivered in the unseasonal April cold.

Each wore their hospital whites and carried a single red rose in tribute to the classmate they loved and lost.

Mourners pictured this afternoon at the funeral of Karen Buckley who was murdered in Glasgow over two weeks ago. Her funeral took place at at the Church of St Michael the Archangel in Analeentha in Mourneabbey, Co. Cork

The tiny farming communities of Mourneabbey and Analeentha ground to a halt as more than 600 people attended the requiem mass for Karen, whose body was found on an isolated hill farm following a massive three-day police search after she disappeared from a Glasgow nightclub on April 12.

Courier company operator Alexander Pacteau (21) has been charged with her murder.

The crowd attending the Church of St Michael the Archangel in Analeentha, which has a capacity of only 300, was so great that a marquee had to be erected.

Mourners wept as Karen's cousin, Siobhan Leahy, read a special poem titled Karen in her honour.

"Small and gentle, honest and true, our sister Karen, how much we will miss you," said Siobhan.

"A nurse with plans, a woman full of dreams, an adventurer who travelled and in fun and laughter revelled.